Sly surgery statistics accusation

The New South Wales Opposition has leapt on accusations that elective surgery statistics are being manipulated to make the State Government look better.

Figures released by the New South Wales Bureau of Health Information show that in the past five years there has been a reduction in surgeries categorised as urgent and an increase in those deemed less urgent.

But Associate Professor Brian Owler, from the New South Wales branch of the Australian Medical Association, says the statistics do not reflect reality.

"What we're not seeing is a decrease in the need for urgent surgery. People are still presenting with the urgent problems," Professor Owler said.

Opposition Health spokeswoman Jillian Skinner says the AMA has confirmed what she has been saying for years.

"That the government has rejigged the rules so that many patients waiting urgently for treatment are not even on hospital waiting lists," Ms Skinner said.

Professor Owler says any surgeon wanting to place a patient in a more urgent category has to make a strong case.